Strawberry plant named ‘Romina’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘Romina’ particularly characterized by high adaptability to non-fumigated soil, very early ripening, good taste with high sweetness, high firmness and shelf life, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Fragaria×ananassa.

Variety denomination: ‘Romina’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority from EU Community PlantVariety Rights (CPVR) application no. 20111275, filed May 30, 2011,which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct June-bearingstrawberry variety designated ‘Romina’ and botanically known asFragaria×ananassa. This new strawberry variety was discovered in Cesena,Italy in 1999 and originated from a cross between the female parent,selection ‘95,617,1’ (unpatented, Selection of National BreedingProgramme Strawberry Project—Italy) and the male parent, cultivar‘Darselect’ (EU CPVR Grant no. 1763 and U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,402).‘Romina’ was first fruited in Ancona, Italy in 2001, where it wasselected and originally designated AN99,78,51.

The present invention has been found to retain its distinctivecharacteristics through successive asexual propagations via stolons andtissue culture.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europeon May 30, 2011 having CPVR application no. 20111275. ‘Romina’ has notbeen made publicly available or sold more than one year prior to thefiling date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Ancona, Italy.

-   -   1. High adaptability to non-fumigated soil;    -   2. Very early ripening;    -   3. Good taste with high sweetness; and    -   4. High firmness and shelf life.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs show typical specimens of the newvariety at various stages of development. The colors shown are as trueas can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.The photographs were taken from ten-month-old plants.

FIG. 1 shows the whole fruit.

FIG. 2 shows upper and lower surfaces of the leaves of the plant withthree leaflets.

FIG. 3 shows overall plant habit including fruit at various stages ofdevelopment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Romina’. The data which define these characteristicsis based on observations taken in Ancona, Italy in 2009-2012. ‘Romina’was evaluated on non-fumigated soil having the followingcharacteristics: pH 7.9, active calcium at 9%, and texture composed at40% clay, 25% sand and 35% silt. This description is in accordance withUPOV terminology. Color designations, color descriptions, and otherphenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values anddescriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal,climatic, and cultural conditions. ‘Romina’ has not been observed underall possible environmental conditions. The botanical description of‘Romina’ was taken from ten-month-old plants. Color references areprimarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Societyof London (R.H.S.). Descriptive terminology follows the PlantIdentification Terminology, An Illustrated Glossary, 2^(nd) edition byJames G. Harris and Melinda Woolf Harris, unless where otherwisedefined.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Rosaceae.        -   Species.—Fragaria×ananassa.        -   Common name.—Strawberry.        -   Denomination.—‘Romina’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—‘95,617,1’ (unpatented, selection of National            Breeding Programme Strawberry Project — Italy).        -   Male parent.—‘Darselect’ (EU CPVR Grant no. 1763; U.S. Plant            Pat. No. 10,402).-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Upright.        -   Height.—40.4 cm.        -   Diameter.—30.5 cm.        -   Number of crowns/plant.—3.8.-   Terminal leaflets:    -   -   Size.—Length: 9.55 cm. Width: 10.07 cm. Length/width ratio:            0.95.        -   Number of teeth/terminal leaflet.—70.4.        -   Shape of teeth.—Rounded.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 141C. Lower surface: RHS 142C.        -   Shape in cross section.—Concave.        -   Blistering.—Medium.        -   Glossiness.—Medium.        -   Number of leaflets.—Three only.        -   Base shape.—Rounded.        -   Apex descriptor.—Rounded.        -   Pubescence density.—Moderate.        -   Margin.—Serrate to crenate.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate. Color: Upper surface: RHS 142D.            Lower surface: RHS 149D.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—28.8 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.42 cm.        -   Pubescence density.—Moderate.        -   Pose of hairs.—Perpendicular.        -   Color.—RHS 149C.-   Petiolule:    -   -   Length.—2.68 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.22 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 149C.-   Stipule:    -   -   Length.—3.63 cm.        -   Width.—0.63 cm.        -   Texture.—Medium.        -   Anthocyanin coloration.—RHS 52B.        -   Color.—RHS 150D.-   Stolon:    -   -   Diameter at bract.—0.32 cm.        -   Average number of daughter plants.—35.        -   Anthocyanin coloration.—RHS 41B.        -   Thickness.—Medium.        -   Pubescence density.—Moderate.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Position relative to foliage.—Most internal, some even.        -   Time of flowering (50% of plants at first flower).—March 30.        -   Corolla.—Shape: Rounded. Length: 3.62 cm. Width: 3.73 cm.        -   Petals.—Shape: Rounded. Apex: Truncate to slightly obtuse.            Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Spacing: Touching. Length:            1.48 cm. Width: 1.36 cm. Length/width ratio: 1.09. Color of            upper side: RHS 155B.        -   Calyx.—Diameter: 3.88 cm. Diameter relative to corolla: Same            size. Inner calyx diameter relative to outer: Same size.            Attitude of calyx segments: Upwards, some outwards.        -   Sepal.—Margin: Entire. Length: 1.4 cm. Width: 0.51 cm.            Typical and observed sepal number per flower: 11.1. Color:            RHS 145B.        -   Peduncle.—Length: 10.9 cm. Diameter: 0.39 cm. Color: RHS            149B.-   Fruit:    -   -   Size.—Large.        -   Length.—4.14 cm.        -   Width.—3.43 cm.        -   Length/width ratio.—1.21 (Longer than broad).        -   Hollow center (cavity).—Absent or small.        -   Weight (per individual berry).—19.8 g.        -   Predominant fruit shape.—Conical or biconical.        -   Difference in shape between primary and secondary            fruits.—Primary fruits are much larger than secondary            fruits.        -   Skin color.—RHS 33A.        -   Evenness of fruit color.—Even or very slightly uneven.        -   Glossiness.—Medium.        -   Achenes.—Insertion of achenes: Level with surface, some to            below surface. Color: Yellow. Width of band without achenes:            Absent or very narrow.        -   Firmness of flesh (when fully ripe).—Firm; 444 g (as            detected by penetrometer with 6 mm probe).        -   Firmness of skin.—Firm.        -   Internal color.—RHS 33D.        -   Sweetness.—Strong; 7.5° Brix.        -   Acidity.—Weak; 9.8 meq NaOH/100 g.        -   Type of bearing.—Not remontant; June-bearing.        -   Grams of fruit/plant.—874.0 g.        -   Yield.—Medium.        -   Time of ripening (50% of plants with first ripe fruit).—Very            early; May 5.-   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: Not available.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

When ‘Romina’ is compared to the female parent ‘95,617,1’ (unpatented,selection of National Breeding Programme Strawberry Project—Italy),‘Romina’ has fruit with higher firmness, darker color and higher sugarcontent, whereas ‘95,617,1’ has fruit with lower firmness, more palecolor and lower sugar content.

When ‘Romina’ is compared to the male parent ‘Darselect’ (EU CPVR Grantno. 1763; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,402), ‘Romina’ has earlier production,higher firmness and higher productivity, whereas ‘Darselect’ has laterproduction, lower firmness, and lower productivity.

When ‘Romina’ is compared to the commercial variety ‘Florida Fortuna’(Registered in the U.S. as ‘Florida Radiance’ with U.S. Plant Pat. No.20,363), ‘Romina’ has more red brick colored fruit, later production anda more vigorous plant, whereas ‘Florida Fortuna’ has less red color,earlier production and a less vigorous plant.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named‘Romina’ as described and shown herein.